rhythm section:
Fabian Supancic - piano, el-piano /
Thomas Wilding - double bass, el-bass /
Klaus Fürstner - drums
This is not my first CD entitled "Next page". After having played mostly in trio format I started to work in quartet with Fritz Pauer, Ron McClure and the drummers Victor Lewis, Adam Nussbaum und Billy Hart in the nineties – defenitely opening a 'next page'. Later I came back to play mostly in trio again, besides my ongoing work with Argentine musicians for decades. That Michael Abene proposed to write arrangements of my compositions means an honour and another very important next page for me. It puts me in an unusual context but Michael – a true master - succeeded in keeping the meaning of my songs and enriched them with beautiful sounds and colors. I would not have started this project without the support of my dear friend Sigi Feigl. His knowledge and dedication were indespensable to make everything happen. I hope you enjoy!Karlheinz Miklin

My capacity for enthusiasm regarding big band music is unadulterated since my professional start in the early 1980's. And almost since then an intense musical collaboration with Karlheinz Miklin had been along my way. Doing workshops with my first "big band baby", the Big Band Süd, being my teacher and mentor at the Jazzdepartment in Graz and in the past years sharing the stage on bigbandish occasions once in a while. Therefore I'm extremly happy that it was possible – with the birth of another band - to bring this collaboration to another level. Performing and recording the music of Karlheinz Miklin with the handpicked and outstanding musicians of the brand-new "Jazz Orchester Steiermark" is a wonderful piece of luck. The icing on this cake are the magnificant arrangements of great Michael Abene – who did an amazing job in putting "Charlie's" very personal music into a big band context. Happy and proud in having been a part of this project!Sigi Feigl

Listening to Karlheinz Miklin several times in small groups I got interested in his compositions, so the idea came up to arrange his music for big band. Doing that I had second thoughts . Here was this wonderful musician who has composed some very interesting music over the years but has very rarely been associated with big bands. Various sizes of small groups yes. The challenge I faced is to try to write the arrangements in such a way as to leave Karlheinz free to play as he would in a small group. His compositions can vary from the craziness of a Joltz's Waltz, Monk-key to beautiful melodies such as Para Pochin and Palomar. Hopefully I have accomplished this. This was a fun and challenging recording to work on and hope you enjoy the finished project.Michael Abene, arrangements

Anna Lauvergnac Duo (IT/GER)

Fr. 16.03.2018, 19:30 Uhr

Anna Lauvergnac (IT) - vocals
Claus Raible (GER) - piano
Put together one of Europe's most soulful jazz-singers, Anna Lauvergnac and a master of jazz piano, Claus Raible: the result? A breathtaking adventure.
Crowning a collaboration that lasts since over 20 years, Anna’s latest project is an extraordinary tribute to the immense vitality of jazz and to the art of song, in the most intimate and demanding of all line ups: the duo.
Anna's interpretation of each song is instinctive and passionate and her dark and rich sound blends perfectly with the pianist's harmony and rhythm.
Breaking out of the common pattern of accompanying a soloist, Claus's playing sounds like an orchestral work, enhancing and surrounding Anna’s melody lines.
There is such a strong musical connection between the two that you can feel and hear this bond in every breath, every word, every chord and every note.
The distinctive trait of this duo is grounded in the awareness of the jazz idiom and the freshness of authenticity and individuality.
Indeed this new program requires-and reflects- "passion, intuition, freedom, faith, and some madness".

"All about musical communication, understanding and challenging each other within the songs, getting the best out of each musician that way and at the same time bring the standards of these recordings to life." Wulf Muller

Worry Later 5tet (A)

Fr. 16.03.2018, 21:30 Uhr

Daniel Nösig (A) - trumpet
Thomas Kugi (A) - tenor saxophone
Oliver Kent (A) - piano
Uli Langthaler (A) - double bass
Dusan Novakov (A/SRB) - drums
This jazz formation brings together one of the most active musicians of the Austrian and European Jazz-scene: WORRY LATER with Oliver Kent (p), Uli Langthaler (b), Dusan Novakov (d), Daniel Nösig (tp) and Thomas Kugi (ts) unites one of the best soloists.
The repertory of this ensemble is mostly compiled by original compositions of themselves, which provide the basis for their outstanding personal statements and unique expressions in contemporary european Jazz music.
All together, this musicians, present a unique program and impress not only with their solistic highlights but also with the distinctive sound in this Jazz-formation.
After long term engagements in all viennese Jazzclubs WORRY LATER is one of the most well-rehearsed groups and present themselves as an euphonic ensemble.
Not only in their hometown they attract large audiences and have a continuing influence on contemporary jazz musicians.
WORRY LATER have played at jazz festivals throughout Europe as well as at International Jazz Festivals in the USA, Cuba, Israel, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Mongolia, Mexico, Tunesia, Ukraine, India, Nepal and South-Africa.
Everybody, who is into Jazz will love this band!

Milan Svoboda 4tet (CZ)

Sa. 17.03.2018, 20:30 Uhr

Milan Krajíc - tenor and soprano sax
Milan Svoboda - piano, keyboards
Filip Spálený - bass
Ivan Audes - drums
Music of the Milan Svoboda Quartet is based on the modern jazz style of last century's sixties and seventies. It is also influenced by rock music, folkloric and contemporary classical music. Svoboda often weaves his compositions into longer theme-based suites, providing space for creative improvisation of all his band members. The Milan Svoboda Quartet has been performing throughout most of Europe, as well as the USA, Mexico and India.

The group played at numerous jazz festivals and produced the following records: "Open The Window Wide", "Dedication", "The Boston Concert", "Tonight-Tomorrow Morning", Milan Svoboda Q & Tony Lakatos, "Sign of Sagittarius", "Live at the Castle", "Moment's Notice" and "Late Harvest". The Quartet played at the prestigious first "European Jazz Night" festival in Vienna, which was broadcasted by the EBU television company all over Europe.

During the 35 years of its existence, the Quartet's lineup witnessed many changes, always featuring top Czech jazz musicians, including Michal Gera (tp), Aleš Charvát (b), Jaromír Helešic (ds), Ivan Myslikovjan (as) and Martin Lehký (b). In the short American period the group featured Greg Badolato (ts) a Aaron Scott (ds). The Quartet performs frequently with internationally renowned personalities, such as Tony Lakatos (ts), Sigi Finkel (ts), Jarek Smietana (g), Jiří Stivín (as) and many others. On occasion the group performs as a Quintet or Sextet. The present lineup of the Milan Svoboda Quartet is a hand-picked company of top-notch soloists, who are the first-call for the hottest Czech jazz projects. The Quartet's repertoire consists mostly of Svoboda's compositions complemented by his original arrangements of well-known jazz literature. The Milan Svoboda Quartet frequently plays at European music festivals and jazz clubs.
At present the Quartet also performs a special concert program featuring the classical cello virtuoso Jiří Bárta. The project has been recorded on a CD entitled "Sign of Sagittarius".

Kristina Barta (CZ)

Sa. 17.03.2018, 21:30 Uhr

Kristina Barta (CZ) - piano
Jan Feco (CZ) - bass
Marek Urbanek (CZ) - drums
Miroslav Hloucal - trumpet
Kryštof Tomeček - guitar
Kristina Barta, whose real name is Kristýna Bártová, was born in Prague in the Czech Republic. In 2015, she founded her own trio - Jan Feco on bass and Marek Urbanek on the drums. She recorded the first demo tape and with her own original arrangements, the famous song Autumn Leaves (J. Kosma) won the competition Jazz Prix 2015. The international jury composed of R. Dombrowski (German music journalist), G. Schroder (The US Attorney Kurland Agency ) and Rudy Linka (Czech jazz guitarist) took her distinctive and fresh approach to the arrangement, and to her own compositions. The trio has performed at the Bohemia Jazz Fest in Prachatice and Pilsen before the band Yellowjackets.

During the same year, a live recording of the bachelor concert by Kristina Barta was nominated by the Czech Radio as a member of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) in the prestigious European competition for young jazz projects Euroradio Jazz Competition 2016. The trio was chosen by the European Commission among the four finalists and Kristina Barta performed together with Jan Fečo and Marek Urbanek at the legendary concert hall Bimhuis in Amsterdam.

"Their music is a combination of jazz tradition and efforts to explore something new. The band sounds optimistic, after the periods of nervous or depressive modern jazz, perhaps, this is a new trend. Helped by the fact they are the young musicians who do not stick to the surface, but go directly to the essence of musical magic", says the editor of Czech Radio Vltava Vaclav Vraný.

In 2016 Kristina Barta won with her song "Find peace of mind" which was performed and written by her sister Martina Barta, a competition for the best jazz composition which is annually organized by OSA (Performing and Mechanical Rights Society).

Other activities and projects: Kristina Barta studied jazz piano at the Music Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under the guidance of prof. Karel Ruzicka and Vit Kristan. She teaches for several years at music schools in Prague. In 2016 Ratibořická Music School opened a new instruction branch in piano, focusing on jazz interpretation under her leadership. In Berlin, working with students Jazz Institute at the Universität der Künste.

EMA29 debut album was released in 2017 by Kristina Barta at the Austrian Alessa Records in cooperation with the Austrian promoter Peter Guschelbauer (among others in the years 2002 - 2007 he was the promoter of the Austrian Joe Zawinul). The steady trio - Barta, Fečo, Urbanek and the album expanded with distinguished guests. Trumpeter and composer Miroslav Hloucal, guitarist Kryštof Tomeček, saxophonist and producer Karel Ruzicka jr. and American vibraphonist David Friedman, a professor at the Jazz Institute in Berlin. In his life, David Friedman worked with musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver and Chet Baker. He was a member of the New York Philharmonic and also taught at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

"My development itself and the emergence of the album was documented by the leading Czech photographer Petr Krejci whose photographs are admired by people all over the world. He has exhibits in Seattle, Houston and Beirut. This uncompromising and decadent photographer reveals and underscores the interiority of music, which I am introducing to you", Kristina Barta.

Marek Urbanek (*1992) is a young and acclaimed jazz drummer in Czech Republic. Visit Urbanek's official website.
Jan Feco (*1990) is a great saxophonist and bassist in one person. Visit Feco's official website.